SOF

Hi,

I am going to Geneva for work in the beginning of July, and my husband is going to join me while our kids are away at camp. While I'm working, he will tour Geneva (I've been before but would appreciate suggestions for any interesting sights) and probably do some exploring around the lake (suggestions welcome - I've been to Nyon and loved it and also hear wonderful things about Annecy in France).

After that, we'll have about 71/2 days to explore Switzerland together. We're tentatively planning on ending up in Basel and then taking the train (about 3 hours) back to Geneva the night before we fly out.(I don't have flexibility on departure location).

We love cities, art, and history but also love hiking, mountains and lakes (two years ago, we went to Norway for a milestone birthday and hiked on glaciers, rafted etc. ) I'd like to spend a day at the Montreaux jazz festival (although I'm not sure if we can still get tickets for the main performance) and my husband would very much like to see either the Matterhorn or the Jungfrau so I'm trying to figure out an itinerary that encompasses one of those. We'd like to do some hiking while in either place. We plan to travel solely by train/bus. I've read through some of the guidebooks and posts here and come up with two tentative itineraries - any thoughts on which one (or tweaking one), feasiblity, cost, best rail options etc. All suggestions welcome!

Itinerary one ?
Geneva (depart)
Montreaux
Berner Oberland (probably Wengen as base)
Luzern
Basel - return to Geneva

Itinerary two ?

Geneva (start)
Montreaux
Gruyeres
Zermatt (Matterhorn)
Bern
Basel - return to Geneva

Thanks!

Dianedancer

I personally love Bern and would recommend it if, as you say, you love cities and history. It's a wonderful small city with a medieval center. It's eady to get to both the Berner Oberland from there and to areas on Lake Geneva.

Why Basel? It seems a bit out of the way from other areas you're thinking about. With 2 days in Bern, 2 days in Montreaux, 3 days in the Berner Oberland and then back to Geneva, I'd say you're done!

PalenQ

I like itinerary 1 - Lucerne and Interlaken area to me are tops- and for the average traveler are the best choices IMO -in any case with that much train travel look strongly at a Swiss Pass of some kind - for lots on Swiss trains, passes (which also cover lake boats, city transports, the iconic postal buses and give free or reduced entry to hundreds of Swiss museums and sights) check www.sbb.ch - Swiss Railways official site; www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Bern can be a day trip from the Interlaken area - like say when poor weather sets in in the Alps. Basel is nice but with limited time I'd stay in the Interlaken-Lucerne-Bern area.

Dianedancer

Lucerne is lovely but be forewarned that there will be loads of Chinese tour groups with selfie sticks. We were there last year in mid September, less crowded than summer, and the crowds were huge. It was a zoo.

SOF

Thanks, these are helpful comments. Dianedancer, thinking of Basel for some of the museums that seem lovely,like the Fondation Beyeler. But this all gives me food for thought. Anyone else?

Dianedancer

If you have less than one day in Basel then how many museums could you realistically see? Seven days is, IMO, not enough time for all the traveling from one place to another and actually have a decent amount of time in each place. Weather in the Alps is not always perfect and I would recommend at least 3 days there to make sure you get a mountain experience .

You have either 4 or 5 different places within each proposed itinerary before you then need to get back to Geneva.

swandav2000

Hi SOF,

Just one quick note --

For your internet and rail searches, be sure you spell the names of your destinations correctly -- Montreux. (There is no "a")

Have fun as you plan!

s

PalenQ

Basel is indeed a very nice city in its centre - the Rhine area is neat.

PalenQ

the museums that seem lovely,like the Fondation Beyeler. But this all gives me food for thought.>

If going to several museums the Swiss Pass gives free entry to about 500 museums and sights but only on 100% covered travel days I believe -not on days in between flexible travel days as it once did.

WeisserTee

"If going to several museums the Swiss Pass gives free entry to about 500 museums"

Yeah, but the Beyeler ain't one of them. It's a private museum currently charging about 30 francs a person. We get Switzerland's national museum pass each year and the Beyeler is excluded on that one too.

PalenQ

$30 p.p. -wow must be good!

SOF

Thanks, this is all helpful. I think we've settled on the following itinerary based on the comments here:

Sun. - Tues. Geneva (I work, husband sees Geneva and explores some areas around lake)
Wed midday transit to Montreaux (1 hr.)(spend night)
Th. - Montreaux/Gruyeres area (probably spend night in Bern)
Fri. - Bern - night in Bern
Sat. - Bern - depart for Wengen - 3 nights in Wengen
Sun. - Mon. - Wengen
Tues. - Wengen to Luzern - night in Luzern
Wed. - Luzern + return late at night to Geneva for departure the following day. Probably stay at airport hotel.

This is maybe a little ambitious but for us it seems like fun and a good mix. Just booked a lovely AirBnB for 3 nights in Wengen. I'm beginning to realize we could easily spend a month or so in Switzerland but sadly have neither the time nor funds. Plus, what would our kids do?

Sadly, will miss Fondation Beyeler this time around but looking forward to the Rosengart in Luzern. Thanks also for the info on the museums and SwissPass - I just downloaded the list.

Any and all ideas on specific sights, hikes, cafes etc. welcome!

PalenQ

Wengen to Lucerne be sure to take the Brunig Pass route (option of taking official Golden Pass scenic trains) -vs the mainline route via Bern - Brunig is just as quick and so so much more scenic.

SOF

Thanks, PalenQ. My next project is to figure out all the trains. I take it that you need to make a reservation for the Golden Pass trains (and maybe pay a supplement above the rail card cost)? It also seems like we could go via the Brunig Pass route even without the Golden Pass train. Is that right?

tipsygus

SCF there is no need to make reservations for this part of the Golden Pass trains, the trains run hourly from Interlaken Ost to Lucerne and there is no supplement payable. if you have the Swiss Travel pass you get free travel to any town or village in Switzerland which has habitation.

Melnq8

You might enjoy the HR Giger museum in Gruyeres. Weirdly wonderful.

Also, don't miss a Gruyere raclette lunch or dinner. And of course the Cailler tour in nearby Broc was high on this chocoholic's list.

We love the white wine garlic soup at Da Sina in Wengen.

I must be hungry!